Staff Handbook

16.Medical and other appointments You are normally expected to ensure that appointments to visit the doctor, dentist, hospital, etc. are made in your own time and outside normal working hours. In the event that this is not reasonably practicable, time off work will be permitted to attend such appointments providing that the appointment is substantiated with an appointment card (if requested) and the timing of the appointment causes as little disruption as possible i.e. at the beginning or end of the working day. Normally in such circumstances you will be required to make up the time missed whilst attending the appointment. Alternatively, paid time off may be granted at the discretion of the Company. 17.Compassionate Leave You are entitled to up to three days paid leave in the event of the death of an immediate family member. Additional unpaid leave may be considered, depending on the particular circumstances. Immediate family means your spouse, common-law partner, civil partner, child, parent, sister, brother, mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandmother, grandfather, grandmother-in-law, grandfather-in-law or any relative permanently residing in your home. You should consult your line manager for advice on the application of the compassionate leave arrangements and for authorisation for leave. 18.Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay Any parent who loses a child under the age of 18, or suffers a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy, is entitled to 1 or 2 weeks’ Statutory Parental Bereavement Leave. If taking 2 weeks, they do not need to be consecutive weeks, and they can be taken any time within the 56 weeks following the child’s death. This section deals with this specific statutory entitlement, but it should be read in conjunction with the section on Compassionate Leave, above. Clearly the loss of a child would be devastating for any parent and as your employer, we would want to do our best to support you through such a difficult time. Notice requirements If you wish to take Bereavement Leave in the period of 56 days from the date of the child’s death, you should notify your line manager before you are due to start work on the first day of absence wherever practicable. Otherwise you should contact your line manager as soon as possible.

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